Reason.tv’s Drew Carey Project Episode 21: Universal Preschool – A silver bullet for education reform or a waste of money?
With support from major foundations and political heavy hitters like Barack Obama, universal preschool is the next big thing in education reform. Indeed, it’s second only to universal health care on the liberal wish list. The goal is to offer publicly funded preschool—complete with credentialed teachers and and a standardized curriculum—to all four-year olds during the school year.
Advocates argue that public investments in early education will pay dividends over the long term. Critics point out that the evidence from states that have universal preschool programs shows that whatever benefits kids receive from those programs fade out by the fourth grade.
Since preschool attendance rates in states that have universal preschool are no higher than the national average, universal preschool wouldn’t even increase preschool attendance. It would, however, cost a lot of money, put lots of privately owned preschools out of business, and dramatically decrease early education options for parents.
So what do you think? Is expanding our failing K-12 system the best way to fix it?
This 10-minute documentary is hosted by reason’s Nick Gillespie. It is produced by Paul Feine and Roger M. Richards.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
For the most part, public and private pre-schools are pretty crumby places for children who’s parents wish to be absolved of responsibility. Once again, it comes down to individual responsibility. Do you want the government to have six hours a day of your child’s developmental years? Do you want a corporation to have it? Or do you actually want to take on the difficult task of being a parent.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:54 am
bosco, how do you figure in the day care aspect of schooling? I’m sure a lot of parents would be interested in shorter school hours and more at home time, but if both parents are working 9-5, it makes that difficult. Ultimately it is their choice to do so, but I imagine that in most households, two incomes are necessary to pay the bills.
Also, do you make a distinction between parents who drop their kids off and expect the school to handle everything (from reading, writing to morals, sex ed and nutrition) vs. the parents who closely monitor their child’s progress and actually contribute to their education at school?
November 4th, 2008 at 8:25 am
A child who’s parents are both working is at a great disadvantage. If the parents are working to “pay the bills” they should look into minimizing the bills for the child’s sake. It’s better to live in a two bedroom apartment where one parent can stay at home to take care of the child than to live in a four bedroom house.
Concerning the day care aspect of schooling, in early childhood it is imperative that the family be responsible for both day care and schooling. I’d say an average child does not to see an educational professional for six hours a day until they are at least 10. You could meet all of the childs needs through the family and an occasional tutor.
Finally regarding you last question I agree that there are shades of gray in this topic. Some parents are more involved in their child’s lives and some are less. In general the more involved a parent is early on, the better off the child is. That being said you will still see a small percentage of bad parents with great kids and vice versa.